Shuttle boxing device



Nov. 28, 1961 R. 1.. CARROLL 3,010,484

SHUTTLE BOXING DEVICE Filed Feb. 6, 1958 INVENTOR. Rosm'r L. CARROLL.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,010,484 Patented Nov. 28, 19613,010,484 SHUTTLE BOXING DEVICE Robert L. Carroll, 408 Mci'ver St.,Greenville, S.C., Filed Feb. 6, 1958, Ser. No. 713,594 2 Claims. (Cl.139-185) This invention relates to an improved shuttle boxing device forlooms.

Conventional looms are provided with a shuttle box adjacent each end ofthe lay for assisting the picker in checking the shuttle and properlypositioning the shuttle prior to its return flight during weaving. Theshuttle box serves to frictionally engage the shuttle prior to itsengaging the picker, where further checking action of the shuttle takesplace, and to positively position the shuttle prior to its beingpropelled by the picker on another flight across the lay.

A conventional shuttle box is formed by a front face which is parallelto the lay and a'pivoted spring biased binder which is so spaced that asthe shuttle enters the box the shuttle strikes the free end of thebinder urging it laterally away from the shuttle. The violent strikingaction of the shuttle causes the binder to be displaced laterally anexcessive amount so that upon its return to engage the shuttle a verystrong spring pressure must be employed so as to sufficiently check theshuttle before the shuttle is received by the picker. This furtherresults in a chattering action of the shuttle upon entry into the box aswell as uneven wearing of the binder leather. The relatively heavybinder springs require more power to drive the shuttle out of the box onthe return flight than should be required occasioning strain on all ofthe loom parts associated with the checking and the propelling of theshuttle and limits the speed at which the loom may be operated.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedshuttle boxing device so that upon the initial entrance of the shuttleinto the box area the shuttle will be engaged in rolling contact withthe binder so as to minimize the lateral displacement of the forward endof the binder.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a shuttle boxingdevice in which the shuttle is resiliently engaged upon its entry intothe box area so as to occa sion a minimum of lateral displacement of thebinder and exert a checking action upon the shuttle immediately upon itsentry into the box.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved boxingdevice which will minimize the chattering action of the shuttle upon itsentry into the shuttle box.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a shuttle boxingdevice in which a rolling contact will be provided between the shuttleand the binder upon the entry of the shuttle into the box so as tominimize wear upon the binder leather at the place where the shuttlestrikes upon entry.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a boxingdevice which will allow greater loom speeds due to the reduction instrain on the parts associated with the checking of the shuttle and theeliminating of the chattering action of the shuttle upon its entry intothe shuttle box.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved boxingdevice which will minimize maintenance upon the parts of the loom whichare associated with the checking operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a boxing devicewhich will minimize the friction exerted upon the shuttle at thebeginning of a power stroke of the picker so as to reduce loom power andimprove the efficiency of the lcorn.

Some of the methods provided to carry out the invention will behereinafter described.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing description and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof wherein some illustrative examples of theinvention are shown, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a shuttle boxing device constructed inaccordance with the present invention showing a shuttle in position tobe propelled on a return flight across the lay of a loom,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the shuttle binder shown in FIGURE 1looking from the front left hand portion of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the right hand portionof the shuttle binder shown in FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional View taken along the line 4-4 inFIGURE 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the improved boxing deviceis shown consisting essentially of a pivoted spring biased binder A, afront face B, and a vertically disposed cylindrical resilient element Crotatably carried by the binder adjacent the portion of the binder whereentry of the shuttle into the boxing device takes place. Referring toFIGURE 1, a shuttle D is shown in solid lines as being in position for areturn flight across the lay of the loom E. The shuttle D is also shownin dotted lines in position immediately following its entry into the boxarea in engagement with the resilient cylindrical element C which isdisplaced laterally due to the impact of the shuttle upon its entry intothe boxing area. Upon entry of the shuttle D into the boxing area theshuttle D is engaged resiliently by the element C in rolling contact tominimize the lateral displacement of the forward end of the binder A.This rolling contact between the shuttle D and the resilient rotatableelement C occurs at the initial entry of the shuttle into the box andsuch contact terminates prior to the frictional engagement of theshuttle by the binder leather. Such frictional engagement of the shuttleoccurs considerably earlier in the present boxing device than withconventional boxing devices because of the early return of the bindersince the displacement of the binder is minimized. A more detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in thedrawing and its operation follows.

The shuttle binder A is pivoted adjacent one end thereof on the pin 10which has connection with the lay E adjacent the end thereof. The binderA is provided with a bushing 11 which is pressed therein so as toprovide a bearing surface for the pin 10. A leaf spring 12, which may beof lighter construction than the usual binder spring, is fixed to thelay E as by the bolts .13 and 14 on one end adjacent the pivot pin 10 sothat the spring exerts an inward pressure against the free end of thebinder by pressing against the binder A adjacent the free end thereof.The inward movement of the free end of the binder A is limited by thestop element 15 which has connection with the lay E. Means is providedfor limiting the outward movement of the binder, if necessary, by theconventional leather pad 15a and the stop element 1511 which isthreadably carried as at by the arm 15d for adjustment thereof so thatthe stop element 15b may yield, if necessary, upon contact by the binderA during boxing. The arm 150! has resilient connection (not shown) withthe lay E. The bolts 13 and 14 which are employed to adjustably positionthe binder spring 12 may be provided with means (not shown) foradjusting 3 the pressure exerted by the binder spring upon the binder.The usual binder leather 16 extends almost the entire length of theinside face of the binder A.

The rotatable element C is mounted upon a vertically disposed shaft 17which is positioned within a cavity or cut of portion 18 as by a pressedfit into the binder material to accommodate the element C. The cavity 18preferably extends through the binder A so as to avoid the accumulationof lint therein. A bushing 19 is rotatably mounted on the verticallydisposed shaft 17 and is shown provided with a splined periphery 19a. Acovering of resilient material 20 is shown in the form of rubbersurrounding the bushing and accommodated within the cut out portion 18.The resilient material 20 should be a heavy rubber-like material havinggood wearing qualities and capable of withstanding repeated impact. Thebushing 19 has portions 19b which project above and below the coveringto insure free turning of the rotatable element C within the cut outportion 18. The rotatable element C is preferably cylindrical in shapeand constructed of resilient material as is shown in the drawing. Anysuitable means for rotatably mounting the element C could be provided inlieu of the arrangement shown in the drawing.

The front face B is of standard construction and is suitably fastened tothe lay E as by bolts 21. The front face may be provided with the usualleather 22 covering its inside face and the leather covering 22 is shownsecured to the front face as by screws 23. During weaving as the shuttleD enters the shuttle box the forward curved entering end of the backface 24 of the shuttle D normally strikes the enlarged curved portion ofrise 25 of the binder A before fully entering the box and engaging thepicker 26. It will be noted that the rotatable element C is sopositioned that a portion of the'periphery of the element C which isindicated at 27 projects inwardly beyond the binder leather 16 so as tomake rolling contact with the shuttle beginning along the curved portion24 of the shuttle D. The shuttle D and the various parts of the boxingdevice are shown in dotted line position just after entering the box. Atthe point where the entering end of the back face of the shuttle 24passes over the rise 25 of the binder, the roller or cylindrical elementC is disengaged from the shuttle in its further entrance into the box toinsure a maximum of frictional engagement of the shuttle by the binder Aalong its length.

In conventional shuttle boxes the binder and the front face are insubstantially parallel relationship but normally the binder is inwardlybiased by the binder spring so as r to make the opening into the shuttlebox smaller than C with the shuttle D further minimizes the lateraldisplacement of the shuttle binder upon entry of the shuttle into thebox.

The effectiveness of the improved binder is greatly enhanced due to thefact that a lighter binder spring returns the binder to engage theshuttle sooner than was heretofore possible even with the relativelyheavy binder spring so as to frictionally engage the shuttle sooner inits flight thus minimizing the chattering action of the shuttle as itenters the box. Thus loom power may be reduced and the speed of the loomincreased during weaving. The use of the rotatable element C alsoprevents the binder leather from becoming worn at its normal point ofcontact with the shuttle thus greatly enhancing the wearingcharacteristics of the binder leather since it is this point thatbecomes worn out long before the remaining portion of the leather.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof and changes and variations willoccur to those skilled in the art which may be made within the scope ofthe appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spring biased shuttle binder for a shuttle box, the improvementincluding, a cut out portion Within said binder adjacent the forward endof the binder where initial contact by the shuttle takes place, avertically disposed shaft carried within said out out portion, aresilient element of circular cross-section rotatably carried by saidshaft, a portion of said element projecting inwardly of said cut outportion so that said element initially engages the shuttle in rollingcontact as the shuttle enters the box and is out of engagement with theshuttle after the shuttle has entered the box.

2. An improved spring biased shuttle binder for a shuttle box including,a cut out portion within said binder adjacent the end of the binderwhere initial contact by the shuttle takes place, a vertically disposedshaft carried within said cut out portion, antifriction means mounted onsaid shaft, a resilient material covering said bushing to form aresilient element of circular cross-section ro tatably carried by saidshaft, a portion of said element projecting inwardly of said out outportion so that said element initially engages the shuttle in rollingcontact as the shuttle enters the box and is out of engagement with theshuttle after the shuttle has entered the box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

